How we use technology at Fernhill House

Monday 8th October, 2018

It’s no secret that technology is becoming more advanced.

With the launch of artificial intelligence devices such as the Amazon Alexa and Google Home, it is now easier than ever to turn your house into a ‘Smart Home’ to help you get on with your daily life, but what does this growth in advanced technology mean for people living in our care homes?

Internet savvy older people

According to the Office for National Statistics 80% of 65 to 74-year-olds are frequent internet users, so it’s no wonder that the elderly community have taken to a bit of internet surfing. Our homes are completely Wi-Fi accessible, and with the use of touch screen devices such as iPads, it’s becoming a lot easier for residents to use their new tech-savvy skills to keep in touch with friends and family, via video call, email or even social media.

What we already offer

To support our teams and ensure the wellbeing of residents at all times, we utilise a range of industry-leading technologies.

Electronic care and medication management software efficiently records key information at the point of delivery. These innovations allow our teams to spend more quality time with our residents, improve analysis, create alerts and allow information to be shared with loved ones using the secure family portal.

We also use acoustic technology, which monitors residents’ wellbeing during the night without the need to undertake intrusive periodic room checks. Care teams are able to respond quickly to the needs of our residents whilst helping them to get a good night’s sleep.

We have also introduced Tovertafel to our homes. A projection technology that shines light-based objects on to the table, residents and their loved ones can play with the projections on the table, all of which respond to movement and touch.

What’s next?

Artificial intelligence is something that is constantly developing, with ground breaking trials currently being undertaken in the US, where a robot has been created to help nurses with simple logistical tasks, such as the gathering of medical equipment and refilling supply rooms.

Also, in Japan, the government is aiming to fill a gap in the nursing workforce by introducing robotics to aid elderly people. Smart technology and apps changing the way we look after ourselves too, with applications such as Kaia, that aims to help back pain sufferers, also internet-connected socksenable you to be treated by a doctor from anywhere in the world.

Technology may change quickly, but we’re constantly looking at ways we can use industry-leading tech to support the wellbeing of our residents.